The official inauguration program was held on December 13, 2025, at Inathganj High School, followed by an interactive health and hygiene awareness campaign designed to empower female students with proper knowledge and practices related to menstrual hygiene, personal cleanliness, and overall well-being.
Each hygiene corner comes with handwashing stations, informative posters and an IoT-enabled sanitary napkin dispenser machine, a first-of-its-kind addition in these institutions, allowing real-time, online monitoring of usage, stock levels, and functionality. The event drew the presence of esteemed guests, including Md Abdul Mannan, Additional Secretary of Coordination & Monitoring, and, Mst Masuda Begum, Deputy Secretary of Development wing, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Prottoy Hashem, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Nabiganj, A K M Arif Akter, Head of Community Engagement and Sustainability at Chevron Bangladesh, and Md. Makbul Hossain, Team Leader of SMILE project at Swisscontact Bangladesh. Their presence reinforced strong collective support for adolescent health and education, adding credibility and visibility to the initiative.
School representatives, government officials and local community leaders also expressed their appreciation for the initiative, acknowledging the role of the SMILE project in building healthier, safer, and more inclusive schools.
Following the inauguration, a high impact awareness session was conducted with approximately 500 female students, focusing on menstrual hygiene management, disease prevention, handwashing practice, safe disposal of sanitary materials, and personal hygiene care. Dedicated booths were also arranged to allow students to have one-on-one consultations with doctors and receive personalized guidance in a safe, and confidential environment. At the end of the event, hygiene kits were distributed among the students for practical support.
By ensuring regular access to sanitary products, reducing taboo, and promoting better hygiene knowledge, the newly established hygiene corners are expected to bring behavioral change and practicing safe hygiene. As part of ongoing project activities, Chevron Bangladesh and Swisscontact Bangladesh continue to enhance health, education, skills development and community resilience. These efforts are being further strengthened to ensure long-term sustainability and improve the overall livelihood of the community.